Cushioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cushioning apparatus includes an air cylinder sheet, a film, and one or more adhesive segment. The air cylinder sheet includes several nodes, and the air cylinder sheet is folded along the nodes to form a first cushioning portion, a second cushioning portion, and a third cushioning portion. The first cushioning portion is closely attached to the bottom of a box for packing an object. Two ends of the film are fixed at the second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion, respectively. The length of the film is greater than a distance between the second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion. The adhesive segment is disposed on the film to allow two regions of the film to adhere with each other or to allow the film to adhere to the second cushioning portion or the third cushioning portion.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on patent Application No. 104116725 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on 25 May 2015 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The instant disclosure relates to a cushioning apparatus. In particular, the instant disclosure relates to a cushioning apparatus having air cylinders.

Related Art

Commonly, a user may use plastic foams or air cylinder sheets to pack an object to reduce the object from being shaken or impacted, such that the object can be prevented from being damaged during transportation.

Along with the blooming of the e-commerce business and the logistics, commonly, an object is to be placed in a standard-sized box, such that several boxes can be stacked in the delivery vehicles for transportation. The object may be a consumer electronic product like a mobile phone, a camera, or may be a CD disc or a gramophone records. Since the size of the object is usually smaller than the box, cushioning members such as air cylinder sheets, plastic foams or other cushioning materials are utilized to fill out the space between the object and the box. Nevertheless, the object might be flipped over or be impacted to cause damage during transportation even if the object is packed the cushioning members.

SUMMARY

In view of these problems, an exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a cushioning apparatus for packing an object and providing cushioning function. The cushioning apparatus comprises an air cylinder sheet, a film, and at least one adhesive segment. The air cylinder sheet comprises a plurality of nodes. The air cylinder sheet is folded along folding lines formed by the nodes to form a first cushioning portion, a second cushioning portion, and a third cushioning portion. The second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion are respectively located at two ends of the first cushioning portion. The film has two ends respectively fixed at the second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion. The length of the film is greater than the distance between the second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion. The adhesive segment is disposed on the film. The adhesive segment is adhered to at least two regions of the film or adhered to at least one region of the film and at least one region of the air cylinder sheet, such that the object can be in contact with a surface of the film, where the surface of the film faces the first cushioning portion.

Generally, the cushioning apparatus is placed in a box, and the first cushioning portion is closely attached to the bottom of the box for packing the object, while the second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion are closely attached to the sidewalls of the box. Based on the size and the shape of the object, the length of the film can be adjusted by the adhesive segment, so that the object can be positioned well in the cushioning apparatus.

In addition, the cushioning apparatus may have two films. The two films are adhered with each other such that the cushioning apparatus may be adapted to pack the object in a flexible manner.

Accordingly, during transportation, the tension force of the film provides a cushioning and supporting function when the object is tilted or upside down so as to prevent the object from being impacted or damaged. Consequently, a better cushioning function may be provided via the simple structure of the cushioning apparatus, and the cost of the cushioning materials is retained in a reasonable range.

Detailed description of the characteristics and the advantages of the disclosure is shown in the following embodiments. The technical content and the implementation of the disclosure should be readily apparent to any person skilled in the art from the detailed description, and the purposes and the advantages of the disclosure should be readily understood by any person skilled in the art with reference to content, claims and drawings in the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The instant disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus not limitative of the instant disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cushioning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cushioning apparatus according to the first embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIGS. 3-6 are sectional views illustrating different operational conditions of the cushioning apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating another operational condition of the cushioning apparatus; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a cushioning apparatus according a second embodiment of the instant disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 2. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cushioning apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the instant disclosure. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cushioning apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cushioning apparatus 100 comprises an air cylinder sheet 10, a film 20, and at least one adhesive segment 30. The air cylinder sheet 10 (air cylinder sheet) comprises a plurality of nodes 40 arranged in several rows to form a plurality of folding lines L. The air cylinder sheet 10 is folded along the nodes 40 to form a first cushioning portion 11, a second cushioning portion 13, and a third cushioning portion 15.

The second cushioning portion 13 and the third cushioning portion 15 are respectively located at two ends of the first cushioning portion 11. The film 20 has two ends respectively fixed at the second cushioning portion 13 and the third cushioning portion 15 by means of heat sealing. The length of the film 20 is greater than a distance between the second cushioning portion 13 and the third cushioning portion 15. When the film 20 is not adhered to the adhesive segment 30, the film 20 is sagged naturally down to the first cushioning portion 11. The adhesive segment 30 is disposed on the film 20. The adhesive segment 30 can be disposed on a first surface 20 a, a second surface 20 b, or the both surfaces 20 a, 20 b of the film 20. The adhesive segment 30 is provided to adhere to two regions of the film 20, or to adhere to at least one region of the film 20 and at least one region of the air cylinder sheet 10. The adhesive segment 30 may be implemented by a double-sided adhesive tape or a pressure sensitive adhesive tape.

The air cylinder sheet 10 comprises two outer membranes 10 a partially connected with each other by a plurality of heat sealing lines 10 b, and the air cylinder sheet 10 is inflated between the heat sealing lines 10 b to form a plurality of air cylinders 10 c. The nodes 40 are located in the air cylinders 10 c and connected to inner surfaces of the two outer membranes 10 a. An interval is defined between each of the nodes 40 and the corresponding heat sealing line 10 b, such that gas is allowed to flow into each of the air cylinders 10 c.

The air cylinder sheet 10 may further comprise a plurality of air valves 17. Each of the air valves 17 is located at a first end of the corresponding air cylinder 10 c and provided for filling gas in the two outer membranes 10 a to form the air cylinders 10 c. Each of the air cylinders 10 c may further comprise two inner membranes 10 d each connected to the inner surface of the corresponding outer membrane 10 a. A gas inlet 10 e is defined between the two inner membranes 10 d. After gas is pumped into the air cylinders 10 c to fill each of the air cylinders 10 c through the air valves 17. the air pressure in each of the air cylinders 10 c forces the two inner membranes 10 d to adhere with each other to close the gas inlet 10 e. Therefore, the gas in the air cylinders 10 c does not leak.

As shown in FIGS. 3-6, which are sectional views illustrating different operational conditions of the cushioning apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the instant disclosure. Generally, the cushioning apparatus 100 is to be placed in a box 200 and provides cushioning function for the box 200. The first cushioning portion 11 is closely in contact with the bottom of the box 200 for packing the object 300, while the second cushioning portion 13 and the third cushioning portion 15 are closely in contact with the sidewalls of the box 200. The first cushioning portion 11 is perpendicular to the second cushioning portion 13 and the third cushioning portion 15, respectively.

As described in the Background section, when the space between an object and a box in where the object is received is too large, the object in the box may be damaged due to being impacted during transportation. Therefore, to solve the problem, as shown in FIG. 3, at least two regions of the film 20 are adhered with each other by the adhesive segment 30, such that the object 300 is in contact with the second surface 20 b of the film 20, where the second surface 20 b faces the first cushioning portion 1. Specifically, the adhesive segment 30 may be adhered to the surface of the object 300 to prevent the object 300 from detaching off the cushioning apparatus 100 during transportation.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the adhesive segment 30 may be adapted to adhere between the film 20 and the second cushioning portion 13, to adhere between the film 20 and the third cushioning portion 15, or to adhere among the film 20, the second cushioning portion 13, and the third cushioning portion 15. Therefore, the adhering portion of the film 20 or the adhering portion of the air cylinder sheet 10 to where the adhesive segment 30 is to be adhered may be determined according to the shape of the object 300, such that the object 300 in the cushioning apparatus 100 cannot move freely.

As shown in FIG. 6, even when the box 200 is upside down, tilted, and unstable state, the film 20 with proper length can be provided as a support and provides a tension force to hold the object 300 from falling off the cushioning apparatus 100 and from colliding to the other side of the box 200.

Please refer to FIG. 7, a sectional view illustrating two cushioning apparatuses 100 are provided to pack the object 300. As shown in FIG. 7, two cushioning apparatuses 100 are mated with each other in the box 200, and the object 200 is received in the space defined by the two mated cushioning apparatuses 100. Specifically, the length of the films 20 and the adhering portion of the film 20 or the adhering portion of the air cylinder sheet 10 to where the adhesive segment 30 is to be adhered may be adjusted to further achieve the cushioning function for the object 300.

Please refer to FIG. 8, which is a sectional view of a cushioning apparatus 100 according to a second embodiment of the instant disclosure. As shown in FIG. 8, the structure of the second embodiment is approximately the same as that of the first embodiment, except that in the second embodiment, the cushioning apparatus 100 comprises a first film 22 and a second film 24. The first film 22 and the second film 24 are respectively fixed at the third cushioning portion 15 and the second cushioning portion 13 by means of heat healing. The adhesive segment 30 is disposed on at least one of an upper surface 22 a of the first film 22, a lower surface 22 b of the first film 22, an upper surface 24 a of the second film 24, or a lower surface 24 b of the second film 24. That is, the adhesive segment 30 may be disposed on the upper surface 22 a of the first film 22, the lower surface 22 b of the first film 22, the upper surface 24 a of the second film 24, the lower surface 24 b of the second film 24. Alternatively, the adhesive segment 30 may be disposed on two or more of foregoing surfaces (i.e., the upper surfaces 22 a, 24 a and the lower surfaces 22 b, 24 b).

In practice, the first film 22 and the second film 24 are adhered with each other by the adhesive segment 30, and the object 300 is on the first cushioning portion 11 and in contact with the lower surface 22 b of the first film 22 and the lower surface 24 b of the second film 24, where the lower surfaces 22 b, 24 b face the first cushioning portion 11. Specifically, the first film 22 and the second film 24 is connected to at least one region of the air cylinder sheet 10 or at least one region of the object 300 by the adhesive segment 30. The length of the first film 22 and that of the second film 24 are designated to allow the first film 22 and the second film 24 to be sagged naturally down to the first cushioning portion 11.

According to the embodiments of the instant disclosure, the air cylinder sheet 10 is folded along the nodes 40 to closely attach to the box 200. In addition, the length of the film 20 is adjusted by the adhesive segment 30, so that the length of the film 20 is mated with the size of the object 300. Therefore, during transportation, the tension force of the film 20 provides a cushioning and supporting function when the object 300 is tilted or upside down so as to prevent the object 300 from being impacted or damaged.

While the disclosure has been described by way of examples and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover various modifications and similar arrangements, which are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cushioning apparatus, adapted to pack an object, the cushioning apparatus comprising: an air cylinder sheet comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein the air cylinder sheet is folded along the nodes to form a first cushioning portion, a second cushioning portion, and a third cushioning portion, wherein the second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion are respectively located at two ends of the first cushioning portion, and the object is on the first cushioning portion; a film having two ends respectively fixed at the second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion, wherein the length of the film is greater than the distance between the second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion; and at least one adhesive segment disposed on the film, wherein the adhesive segment is adhered to at least two regions of the film or adhered to at least one region of the film and at least one region of the air cylinder sheet, such that the object is in contact with a surface of the film, where the surface of the film faces the first cushioning portion.
 2. The cushioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive segment allows the film to adhere to at least one of the second cushioning portion, the third cushioning portion, and a surface of the object.
 3. The cushioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the film is not adhered to the adhesive segment, the film is sagged naturally down to the first cushioning portion.
 4. The cushioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air cylinder sheet comprises two outer membranes partially connected with each other by a plurality of heat sealing lines, and the air cylinder sheet is inflated between the heat sealing lines to form a plurality of air cylinders, the nodes are located in the air cylinders and connected to inner surfaces of the two outer membranes, an interval is defined between each of the nodes and the corresponding heat sealing line, such that gas is allowed to flow into each of the air cylinders.
 5. The cushioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive segment is a double-sided adhesive tape, a pressure sensitive adhesive tape, or the combination of a double-sided adhesive tape and a pressure sensitive adhesive tape.
 6. A cushioning apparatus, adapted to pack an object, the cushioning apparatus comprising: an air cylinder sheet comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein the air cylinder sheet is folded along the nodes to form a first cushioning portion, a second cushioning portion, and a third cushioning portion, wherein the second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion are respectively located at two ends of the first cushioning portion, and the object is on the first cushioning portion; two films respectively fixed at the second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion, wherein the total length of the two films is greater than the distance between the second cushioning portion and the third cushioning portion; and at least one adhesive segment disposed on at least one of the two films so as to adhere the two films with each other and to allow the object to be in contact with a lower surface of each of the two films, where the lower surfaces face the first cushioning portion.
 7. The cushioning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the air cylinder sheet comprises two outer membranes partially connected with each other by a plurality of heat sealing lines, and the air cylinder sheet is inflated between the heat sealing lines to form a plurality of air cylinders, the nodes are located in the air cylinders and connected to inner surfaces of the two outer membranes, an interval is defined between each of the nodes and the corresponding heat sealing line, such that gas is allowed to flow into each of the air cylinders.
 8. The cushioning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the air cylinder sheet further comprises a plurality of air valves and two inner membranes, each of the air valves is located at a first end of the corresponding air cylinder and provided for filling gas, each of the inner membranes is connected to the inner surface of the corresponding outer membrane, a gas inlet is defined between the inner membranes, wherein after gas is delivered into the air cylinders to fill each of the air cylinders, the pressure in each of the air cylinders forces the two inner membranes to adhere with each other.
 9. The cushioning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the adhesive segment allows the two films to adhere to the at least one of the second cushioning portion, the third cushioning portion, and a surface of the object.
 10. The cushioning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the two films are not adhered to the adhesive film, the two films are sagged naturally down to the first cushioning portion.
 11. The cushioning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the adhesive segment is a double-sided adhesive tape, a pressure sensitive adhesive tape, or the combination of a double-sided adhesive tape and a pressure sensitive adhesive tape. 